PC Gamer has a MechWarrior Online trailer, offering the first look at Piranha Game's upcoming multiplayer mech game. The cinematic teaser shows an Atlas disembarking from a dropship like a lead zeppelin.

Post CommentEnter the details of the comment
you'd like to post in the boxes below and click the button at
the bottom of the form.

eRe4s3r wrote on Feb 29, 2012, 21:22:Wow, talk about creepy. I had the exact same thought, Atlas does not have jump-jets nor capability to jerry rig one. Also in Battletech mechs are nearly never dropped, jump-jets are for jumping, not to survive an air-drop. They are called drop ships because they literally drop down to the ground from space.

Maybe Piranha Game should read the Battletech Tech Manuals for starters? Their lack of attention to detail is discomforting

That's almost entirely wrong. Atmospheric drops were introduced way back in AeroTech, and were described in Technical Readout 3025 under the Union and Overlord entries. From AeroTech II, p.35, Dropping 'Mechs and Battle Armor:

"Battlemechs and battle armor can exit a DropShip under three conditions: on the ground, at high altitude, or in space. Units that exit a DropShip at high altitude descend under the influence of gravity, falling 1 hex per turn... Jump-capable BattleMechs and battle armor suits can use their thrusters to control their descent. Units without jump jets mount special disposable thruster packs that allow them to control their descent and land safely."

I think in the latest iteration of the rules this is in Strategic Operations, which came out way after I'd gotten out of BattleTech, but atmospheric 'Mech drops are totally a thing in the game, and have been ever since DropShips were introduced. That "special disposable thruster pack" is very clearly what the Atlas has going on.

Edit:

Google shows that 'Mech Jump Packs were described in Tactical Operations - "The BattleMech jump pack was developed to give jump-incapable BattleMechs a surprise edge in the early stages of battle, to help them cross particularly difficult terrain features, or to deploy them in combat drops," and that the rules are indeed laid out in Strategic Operations - "’Mechs, ProtoMechs, battle armor, WiGE Vehicles and vehicles with Jumping MP may make atmospheric drops. If a unit than can mount jump jets does not mount jump jets, it may either mount disposable jump jets (which automatically jettison upon touchdown."